Lifting apparatus for construction materials



"v -ilk- Sept. 13, 1955 w. P. NEIL 2,717,801

LIFTING APPARATUS FOR CONST Filed Aug. 27, 1952 RUCTION MATERIALS 2Sheets-Sheet l J \J 3x INVENTOR:

W/LL/AM P NE/L. BY

Sept. 13, 1955 w. P. NEIL 2,717,801

LIFTING APPARATUS FOR CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS Filed Aug. 27, 1952 2Sheets-Sheet 2 50 INVENTOR: W/LL/AM F. NE/L.

United States Patent OfiFice LIFTING APPARATUS FOR CONSTRUCTIQNMATERIALS William I. Neil, Pasadena, Caiif. Application August 27, 1952,Serial No. 366,622 8 Claims. (Cl. 294-67) in rows, such columns servingas supports for the ends verseiy of the planes of adjacent lines of theroof trusses, the ends of each joist being suitably secured to opposite,parallel trusses to extend therebetween, or to trusses and a parallelwall. In order to place a heavy joist in position, it is common practiceto employ a boom-type crane, the lifting cable of which is suitablyconnected, as by the use of a sling, to the joist, the boom then hisbalance or footing and fall when attempting to guide such a long, heavybeam into place. Such loss of balance may also occur when a workmanwalks out along my knowledge.

It is therefore an object of this invention to obviate theinefiiciencies and hazardous conditions encountered 2,717,801 PatentedSept. 13, 1955 being loaded with the joists when positioned on the floorbeneath the roof trusses.

Another object is to provide an apparatus of the charter referred to inwhich the carrier is provided with indicated in which the carrier frameis provided with a plurality of transversely extending platforms orshelves arranged in stepped relation, each shelf being adapted tosupport one of the roof joists. A related object is to of each step-likeshelf retainer mounted thereon, may be lifted bodily to the approximatelevel of the trusses or rafters between which the joists Since theextension is disposed at the trusses of the roof structure.

The procedure followed in so positioning the joists involves firstlifting the carrier above the level of the rafters and positioning thecarrier so that the lowermost joist thereon extends at right-angles tothe parallel trusse time involved m constructing the building roof isminim zed and this results in a greatly decreased over-all buildingcost.

joists into place, the'danger of the workmen losing their balance s alsominimized. In addition, since the lifting tioned joist to disconnect thecable therefrom is wholly avoided and this also makes for greatersafety.

A further object of the invention is to provide a carrier of the typespecified which embodies a framework constructed entirely fromstructural shapes welded together, the carrier also having brake-likefeet at one end which provide fulcrums about which the carrier may betilted upwardly or pivoted downwardly to avoid rolling of the carrierduring such movement.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a liftingapparatus, of the character referred to, which is extremely simple inconstruction and economical to manufacture, one which is comparativelylight in weight and easily maneuvered, and one which is highly practicaland efiicient in performing its intended function.

Further objects will become apparent from the lowing description andfrom the drawings, tended for the purpose of illustration only, and inwhich:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a portion of a roof structure, showingthe present lifting apparatus applied to use in setting a plurality ofroof joists in position between parallel roof trusses;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the mobile and liftable carrier forsupporting the plurality of roof joists;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the carrier; and

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the carrier which is shown in aninclined position assumed when it is being lifted from the floor orlowered onto the same; and

Fig. 5 is a small scale sectional view, taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Referring first to lifting apparatus 5 is ing roof joists 6 intoposition where they may be mounted between the upper members 7 ofFink-type roof trusses 8 or to horizontal roof members 9 connecting theadjacent ends of said members of the aligned trusses. It is to beunderstood that the lifting and positioning apparatus of the instantinvention is not limited to use in connection with a roof structure ofthe specific type shown but rather is adaptable for use in lifting andpositioning roof joists between other forms of roof trusses and rafters.The roof structure shown, by way of example, has been successfullyemployed in connection with large industrial buildings of the so-calledprecast, tilt-up panel types, such a structure being disclosed in mypending application, Serial No. 286,791, filed May 8, 1952, and titledConcrete Buildings and Method of Producing Same, to which reference ismade for a more detailed description of such a building. In general, abuilding of this type consists of a concrete floor, concrete footingsbordering the floor and a series of concrete wall columns and panelsprecast upon the floor and tilted up into position upon the footings toform the walls of the building, the wall columns being formed eitherintegrally with the panels or cast as separate elements to which thepanels are suitably joined to provide the wall. In addition to the wallcolumns, other interior columns, such as those shown at 11, are set upupon footings and arranged in alignment across the building. The rooftrusses 8 are set up in parallel rows With their ends resting uponhearing portions 12 of the inner columns 11 and upon bearing portions ofthe outer wall columns, shown in the pending application referred toabove. In mounting the roof joists 6 between the trusses 8, the latterare provided with double U-shaped straps or stirrups 15 for receivingthe ends of the joists, said ends being lowered into the stirrups andthereafter secured to the members 7 and 9 by the usual toe nails.

The roof joists are, according to the conventional procedure, liftedindividually from the floor upon which they are stacked, by means of amobile crane unit having a movable boom and a lifting cable detachablyconnectible to each joist by means of a sling. Each roof joist is liftedto a position above the parallel trusses, turned to extend normal to thetrusses and then lowered into position between the trusses, workmenstationed on the trusses guiding the ends of the joist into the U-shapedstirrups.

folwhich are in- Fig. 1 of the drawings, the present designedparticularly for use in liftr mount the joists 6 workman thendisconnects the sling from the joist, after which the lifting cable islowered to receive another joist. As previously pointed out, such aconventional procedure is a slow, laborious and expensive one and theover-all cost of erecting the building, based on the man-hours involved,thus is materially increased. This is an extremely importantconsideration where the otherwise inexpensive, precast, tilt-up methodof construction is involved. The instant invention is concerned with anapparatus designed particularly for expediting the erection of such roofstructures by permitting the simultaneous lifting of a plurality of theroof joists to be installed between the trusses by simply lowering thejoists individually and successively into position for attachment to thetrusses. In accordance with my invention, this concept involves the useof a frame-like holder or carrier 20, to be next described.

Referring particularly to Fig. 2 of the drawings, the carrier 29 is inthe form of a rectangular frame or chassis having end members 21 and 22and side members 23 and 24, all of which are preferably made tions, suchas strips of angle-irons. Attached to the underside of the frame, at thecorners thereof, are caster units 25 having swivel caster wheels 26. Thecarrier frame also has upright corner posts 28 and 29, and a lateralextension or arm 30 at its forward end consisting of a pair ofconvergent bars 31. The outer end of the extension 30 carries a plate 32provided with a relatively large hole or eye 33 through which the hookof a lifting cable may engage.

The sides of the mobile carrier 20 are composed of upright angle-ironbars 36, 37 and 38, and longitudinally extending angle-iron bars 39, 40,41 and 42 extending between the uprights and the corner posts 28, 29,these several components preferably being welded together, and to theframe 2124, to provide a strong, rigid unitary structure. Cross-strutsor ties 43 and 44, extending transversely between the sides of thecarrier further strengthen the structure.

It is to be noted that the longitudinal side bars 39 to 42 at each sideof the carrier 20 are arranged at progressively higher levels, in otherwords in upwardly stepped relation from the end of the carrier at whichthe lifting arm 30 is located, these horizontal bars being, in effect,the treads of the steps while the uprights 36, 37 and 38 and cornerposts 28, 29 constitute the risers. As will presently appear, thehorizontal treads 39 to 42 provide supports for the roof joists 6 whenthe carrier is at rest upon the floor while the risers 36 to 38 and therear corner posts 29 form such supports when the carrier is lifted withits forward end 30 uppermost. In order to retain the roof joists 6 onthe carrier 20, each riser is provided with a lateral finger or retainerbar 48, said bars overlying the rearward portions of the horizontaltreads and defining therewith slots 49 in which the longitudinal edgesof the joists 6 are disposed when mounted on the carrier.

The carrier 20 is further provided with blocks 50 at its rearward endfor the purpose to be later explained. The rearward corner posts 29 areprovided with holes through which guiding ropes 52 may be detachablylooped.

Assuming that the building construction has progressed to the stageWhere the roof trusses 8 have been erected to extend between the columns11 and it is now necessary to between the trusses, such placing of thejoists is carried out in the manner to be next explained. With thecarrier 20 at rest upon the floor of the building, roof joists 6 areplaced on the carrier as indicated by the broken lines in Fig. 2. To soload the carrier 20, a joist 6a is taken from a stack of the joists andplaced upon the uppermost supports 42 and slid rearwardly to cause itslongitudinal edge to be located in the slot 49. Other joists 6b, 6c, and6d are similarly and successively placed on the supports 41, 40, and 39with their longitudinal edges disposed beneath the retainer bars 48.When so mounted on the carrier 20, the several joists 6a to 6d arearranged in. stepped relation, both horizontally and vertically, as

shown. The loaded-carrier 20 is then wheeled along the floor to assumeof trusses 8.

A mobile crane is between the lifting cable Th a position beneath andbetween two rows so stationed as to locate its boom parallel trusses 8-,said crane boom having a 55 provided with a book 56 at its end. e hookis passed through the eye 33 of the carrier joists 6a to 6d aresupported by the corner posts 29, and are retained on the carrier byreason of their being held in the slots 49. During the upward tiltingmovement of the carr1er'20, the-latterpivots on the blocks and upsettingplacement of the joists.

The carrier 20, together with the joists mounted thereon, is next liftedby the crane to a position posite stirrups 15. 6a is quickly positionedto form part of the ture.

rality of the joists in position For example, by simultaneously liftingfour of the joists over-all cost of the In accordance buildingstructure. with the provisions of the patent have it understood out byfurther modified means.

I claim as my invention:

iftable carrier for use in 1. A 1 between parallel roof elements,

rier releasing 2. I A liftable carrier for use in placing joists toextend between parallel roof elements, comprising: a frame tiltable onone end from a horizontal loading position to a vertical liftingposition; caster wheel on said 3. A liftable carrier for use in placingjoists to extend between parallel roof elements, comprising: arectangular of the joists when the frame is in its horizontal loadingposition and operative to prevent lateral displacement of the joistswhen the frame is in its vertical lifting position;

and an extension integral with the frame and providing a lifting meansat the opposite end of the frame by which the carrier can be tiltedupwardly and lifted bodily by a crane to a position between saidparallel roof elements, said carrier being movable successivelydownwardly and laterally by the crane so as to deposit the joistscarried thereby singly and successively along and between the roofelements, said downward movement of the carrier releasing the joistsfrom said slots.

4. A liftable carrier for use in placing joists to extend betweenparallel roof elements, comprising: a rectangular frame tiltable on oneend from a horizontal loading position to a vertical lifting position;caster wheels on said frame by which the carrier may be moved along afloor; a plurality of support means at the sides of said frame, eachadapted to support a joist placed thereon, said support means beingarranged in stepped relation vertically and horizontally, the supportmeans located adjacent said one end being of highest elevation; retainermeans at the sides of the frame overlying each of said support means anddefining, with said support means, transverselyspaced, horizontallyextending slots for laterally receiving longitudinal edges of the joistswhen the frame is in its horizontal loading position and operative toprevent lateral displacement of the joists when the frame is in itsvertical lifting position; and an extension integral with the frame andproviding a lifting means at the opposite end of the frame by which thecarrier can be tilt'ed upwardly and lifted bodily by a crane to aposition between said parallel roof elements, said carrier being movablesuccessively downwardly and laterally by the crane so as to deposit thejoists carried thereby singly and successively along and between theroof elements, said downward movement of the carrier releasing thejoists from said slots.

5. A liftable carrier for use in placing joists to extend betweenparallel roof elements, comprising: a relatively wide rectangular frametiltable on one end from a horizontal loading position to a verticallifting position; caster wheels at the corners of said frame by whichthe carrier may be moved along a floor; a plurality of longitudinallyspaced uprights at the sides of said frame; horizontal bars connectedbetween said uprights and providing horizontal supports upon whichjoists may be placed with a longitudinal edge of each joist disposedagainst a said upright; horizontal retainer fingers on said uprightseach overlying a said horizontal bar, said fingers defining with saidbars and said uprights horizontal recesses having their open endsdisposed toward the opposite end of said frame to receive saidlongitudinal edges of the joists, said longitudinal edges being restableupon said uprights within said recesses when the carrier is tiltedupwardly on said one end; and a rigid, integral lifting means at thesaid opposite end of the frame by which the carrier can be tiltedupwardly and lifted bodily by a crane to a position between saidparallel roof elements, said carrier being movable successivelydownwardly and laterally by the crane so as to deposit the joistscarried thereby singly and successively along and between the roofelements, said downward movement of the carrier releasing the joistsfrom said recesses.

6. A carrier as defined in claim 5 in which said frame, said uprights,said horizontal bars and said lifting means are structural shapes andprovide a rigid, unitary structure, said carrier also including tie-rodsextending between the sides of the carrier.

7. A carrier as defined in claim 5 including brake block means carriedby said frame at its said opposite end and providing a fulcrum by whichthe carrier can be tilted on the floor.

8. A carrier as defined in claim 5, including block means carried bysaid frame at its said opposite end and providing a fulcrum by which thecarrier can be tilted on the floor, and a pair of steering ropesdetachably connected to the carrier at said opposite end thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

